Apparatus for separating objects



April 7, 1970 J. w. SHANNON ET AL. 3,504,578

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING OBJECTS Filed Nov. 22, 1967 INVENTORS JAMIES w.SHANNON BY g B. DOWELL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,504,578 APPARATUSFOR SEPARATING OBJECTS James W. Shannon and Horace B. Dowell, Decatur,Ala., assignors to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 685,039 Int. Cl. B67b 7/00 US.Cl. 813.47 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for openingdrums and the like comprising a bar having secured to one end thereof atleast one transversely extending rod, and having the other end thereofserving as a handle, and at least one transversely extending hook-shapedmember positioned intermediate the handle and the rod and lying in thesame longitudinal plane as the rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This inventionrelates to an apparatus for separating objects, and more particularly toan apparatus for opening cardboard drums which have the ends thereofpressed in or press-fitted.

(2) Description of the prior art Heretofore, there has been no efficientway in which to open drums which have been constructed of compressednonwovens or cardboard other than to use an axe or similar implement.The ends of these drums are usually pressfitted more or less renderingthe entire drum an integral unit. Wedge bars, ri-p bars, wrecking bars,crowbars, etc., have proved ineffective due to (1) there being nofulcrum point upon which to predicate leverage, the material crushingunder light loads, and (2) there being nothing in the form of a lip,etc. to obtain a hold.

The present practice of opening these drums with an axe is dangerous andpresents a safety hazard. This is particularly the case when the drumscontain slippery materials su h as soap, etc. After one has opened anumber of drums, his hands become slippery and the handle is hard tohold thus presenting the possibility of an axe flying across the room.

Further, when an axe is used to open the drums, a number of strokes arenecessary which consume valuable time and inherently cut down onprofits.

The above-mentioned tools are readily available, simple, andinexpensive, and any substitute therefor should also possess thesequalities, even though safety would warrant the foregoing of some ofthese qualities. The apparatus of this invention possesses all of theabove qualities and is completely safe to use.

Also, when the above tools, particularly the axe, are used the chancesof tearing the sides of the drum and spilling the contents are great.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the disadvantagespointed out above by providing an apparatus which is capable ofobtaining a hold on the ends of drums in order that they may be easilyremoved, the apparatus having at least one transversely extending rodsecured to one end of a bar, and having at least one transverselyextending hook positioned and secured to the bar intermediate the rodand the other end of the bar.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple andinexpensive drum opening apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forseparating objects which is safe to use.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a drum opening toowhich will save time and enhance economies.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a drum openingapparatus which is capable of opening drums without destroying theircontaining qualities and allowing the contents to spill out.

These and other objects and advantages will become more readily apparentwhen read in conjunction with the remainder of the specification andconsidered along with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows a perspective view ofa preferred embodiment of a drum opening apparatus according to thisinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drum opening apparatus shownin the drawing is generally denoted by reference numeral 1, and is madeup of an elongated straight bar 2 having one end serving as a handle 3.On the other end 4 of bar 2 is tangentially secured a plate 5 havingperpendicularly extending pointed rods 6 secured thereto. Intermediatebar ends 3 and 4, a transversely extending hook-shaped member 7 issecured to bar 2 and lies in the same, or a parallel, plane with rods 6.Hook-shaped member 7 has a pointed end 8 extending in the generaldirection of end 4 of bar 2.

A brace 9 for reinforcing hook-shaped member 7 is secured, as bywelding, to member 7 as at 11 and to bar 2 as at 10.

Deviations from the preferred embodiment described above are consideredwithin the realm of this invention. For example, any number of rods 6will sufiice as long as there are at least one. Also, rods 6 may besecured directly to bar 2 thereby eliminating the need of plate 5.

Bar 2 can be a pipe, solid rod, etc., and can have end 4 flattenedwhereupon plate 5 will be unnecessary.

In operation, drum opening apparatus 1 is utilized opening cardboarddrums by placing a point on bar 2 intermediate plate 5 and hook 7 on anedge of the drum and forcing hook 7 into the side of the drum. Hook 7will uncture the drum just below where the lid fits onto the drum. Thenby lifting the handle end 3, rods 6 will pierce the lid and same will beremoved.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of this invention can be usedfor opening drums, cartons, boxes, etc., and in general for separatingobjects.

The distance between the hook-shaped member and the rod will necessarilybe less than one of the dimensions of the objects separated. Forexample, when the apparatus of this invention is used for removing topsfrom drums, the distance between the hook-shaped member and the rod willhave to be less than the diameter of the tops.

The foregoing illustrates the essential features of the invention aswell as some of the manners in which it may be practiced. Variouschanges and modifications may be made in practicing the inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, theinvention should not be limited except as defined in the appended claim.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for separating objects comprising:

(a) an elongated straight bar;

(b) a plate tangentially secured near one end of the the bar,

(c) at least one perpendicularly extending rod secured to the plate; and

(d) at least one transversely extending hook-shaped 10 member positionedintermediate the rod and the other end of the bar.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LESTER M. SWINGLE, PrimaryExaminer R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

